Machine for applying reinforcing means to rug-seams.



H. E. TERRY.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING REINFORCING MEANS T0 RUG SEAMS.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.6. 1914.

1,137,243. Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I FICZ 1 WITNESSES ATTORN EY H. E. TERRY.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING REINFORCING MEANS T0 RUG SEAMS.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.6. I914. 1,137,243. Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- MQL .k$\ J L QM ATTORN EY H. E. TERRY.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING REINFORCING MEANS T0 RUG SEAMS.

APPLICATION FILED 00].6. I914. 1,137,243. Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- INVENTOR s E s s E N w w ATTORNEY STATES PATENTorrrcn.

HENRY E. T RRY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,"HENRY E. TERRY, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, 'and State ofPennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Machines for ApplyingReinforcing Means to Rug-Seams, of which the following is' aspecification. I

This invention relates to a machine for applying a reinforcing means tothe seam or seams of a rug or the like, in order to conceal the seam andprevent the same from opening up or stretching in the ordinary manner. II I The invention has as an object to provide a machine forautomatically feeding a seamedrug, carpet or the like, into operativerelation with a reinforcing material-or tape and automatically aflixingsuch rein forcing means permanently-to the seam-or seams, whereby theseams are permanently coveredat the rear side of the rug.

It has for a" furtherobject to provide a means for softening andstretching the seams of the article and also pressing the stretchedseams preparatory to receiving the reinforcing material. I

It has for a further object to provide an indicating means fordetermining the proper alinement of certainadjuncts of the mechanismwith the seam or seams so that the proper action takes place in thedesired manner. a 1, k

It has as a further object to provide a means for applying a coating "ofadhesive materialito one side of the reinforcing tape andautomatically-feeding such tape into juxtaposed position with respect tothe seams of the-article. 1 f I I 'It has for a further object toprovide a means for varying the position of the coated tape -whereby itsI position I with respect 'to' the seam is presented with exactness. Ithas for a further object to provide a 45 means for pressing the coatedtape into-position upon the seam and providing a means for drying theadhesive to'permanentl'y secure the tape to the article. II I I Myinvention also comprehends details of 50 construction which, togetherwith the features above specified,-will be better understood byreference to the drawings, in

Figure 1 represents a plan of a rug-seam- 55 ing mtihine embodying myinvention, certam portions of the machine being broken Specification ofLetters Patent.

. to initially position the REINFOBCING MEANS TO RUG-SEAMS.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

Application filed October 6, 1914. Serial No. 865,303.

away for clearness of illustration; Fig. 2 represents a sectionalelevation on line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a section on the hne3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 represents a section on line44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5represents a section'on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 represents a sideelevation, partly in section, of the adhesivejapplying mechanism; Fig. 7represents a' detailof the scraping mechanism used in conjunction withthe adhesive applying means; Fig. 8 represents a section through one ofthe seams of the material showing the finished-seam with the reinforcingmaterial in place.

Si 'lar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

1 designates the main frame of the machine secured to which at thereceiving end thereof is a plate or-board2 arranged in an inclinedposition and serving to receive the material, cloth, rug, carpet or thelike before it enters the machine. Adjacent this board 2 and normallyresting upon the same .thereis a roll 3 carried'by arms 4 and suitablyhinged as shown at 5 to the frame 1 so that it may be raised or liftedin order width of material uponthe board 2. As soon as the material isproperly positioned the roll 3 is released and serves by its own welghtas a means to keep the material free from wrinkles and inpropercondition to enter the machine.

In the present instance the receiving board 2 terminates adjacent aconveying mechanism which is adapted to engage the material and feed itinto proper relation to the operating adjuncts of the machine. As hereshown, the conveyer mechanism consists of a 'pair of toothed conveyerbelts 6 suitably attached to the respective chains 7 which are driven bythe sprocket wheels 8 and 9, the former pair of sprockets being carriedby and fixed to the driven shaft 10 while the latter pair of sprocketsis similarly connected to the driving shaft 10, this latter receivingits motion from a chain and sprocket mechanism 11, driven from anysuitable source of power. I

12 designates a .pair of rods fixedly secured to the frame 1 andpreferably arranged in parallel relation to the shaft 10 for supportingthe hangers 13 which carry the grooved guides 14. The grooved portionsof the guides are adapted to receive the teeth of the conveyer so thatthe material is firmly gripped during the feeding operation. It will beobvious from Fig. 1 that the hangers 13 respectively support oppositeend portions of the guides 14, the arrangement being such that theinnermost end of each of the guides, as well as the adj acent conveyers,are spaced apart somewhat farther than the outermost ends of theseparts. relation of -the conveyers is to initially stretch the materialas it enters the machine so that the seams are stretched in a desiredmanner to bring the seams and the sections of the material into the sameplane to eliminate the ridge generally formed by such a seam. The twoconveyers 6 are driven from the sprockets 9 and move across the top ortable 15 of the machine in a direction away from the inclined board 2,as will be understood. a

In the present embodiment of my invention I have shown a machine adaptedfor use with a rug or carpet having four seams, but it will be notedthat one of the supports for the conveyor frame 16 is removably attachedto the cross frame 17 and may be shifted so that material of less widthor less number of seams may be operated upon if desired. For thispurpose the cross frame 17 is apertured at 18 to permit the conveyerframe to be bolted in the position desired.

19 designates a steam pipe extending transversely of the machine andsuitably supported upon the machine for sliding movement with respect tothe sides of the machine, the said pipe having connection to a suitablesource of steam supply and exhausting at a suitable point by way of thepipe 20. This steam pipe 19 is provided at intervals with dischargeopenings 21 corresponding in number to the number of seams in thematerial, and each is located so as to discharge the steam directlyagainst the adjacent seam. In view of the fact that" the pipe 19 isbelow the top 15, the latter is apertured at a corresponding number ofpoints as shown at 22 so that the steam may contact directly with theback of the material against the seam.

23 designates an arm attached to the steam pipe 21 and located above thetable 15 so that the pointer 24, which is secured to said arm, may bepositioned directly above the seam and thus determine the correctoperative position of the steam discharge opening 21 with respect to theseams. Thus, for example, if the article enters the machine with theseam to one side of the pointer 24 it will be apparent that the steamoutlet 21 will also be to one side of the seam rendering it ineffectivefor the purposeintended. It therefore becomes necessary to shift the armuntil the pointer is directly alined with the seam, thereby insuring theit proper discharge of the steam.

The object of this diverging- The initial operation of feeding the rugor carpet to the machine, therefore, consists of placing the articleupon the inclined board 2 beneath the roll 3, brin'ging'it into positionto be engaged by the toothed con-.

and 28, the rollers 28 being rotatably mountt ed upon the shaft 10 whilethe rollers 27 are rotatably carried respectively by the frames 29 abovethe material, these Patter being mounted for pivotal movement upon oneof the rods 12 and held in operative po sition by the counterweight 30.As an additional feeding means I preferably provide a suitable number oftoothed rollers 32 mounted to rotate with the shaft 10 and projectingthrough suitable openings in the table 15. In the present instance Inave indicated but one set of seam-pressing rollers for engaging thematerial before the tape is supplied to the seam, but it will beunderstood that other sets may be employed if desired without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

After the stretched seam has been pressed by passing between the sets ofrolls 27 and 28, it is ready for the application of the tape which isdesigned to protect the seam and hold it in its flat condition toprevent ridges being formed and also prevent the seam from opening up atthe backof the article. The tape-applying means consists in the presentinstance of a plurality of spools of tape 33, one spool for each seam ofthe cloth, and all of said spools being preferably mounted at thereceiving end of the machine upon the spindle 34 as will be apparent.

In. view of the fact that the tape-applying means as well as thetreatment of the tapes by the adhesive is similar for each tape, thedescription will be limited to the mechanism for one tape, butwill beunderstood as applying to all. 35 designates a tubular guide suitablyfixed to the frame 1 and having one end positioned adjacent the spool 33to receive the tape while its opposite end is located adjacent theadhesive applying means. I

The adhesive applying means consists,

in the present instance, of a receptacle or trough 36 suspended atopposite ends from the rods 37 which are fixed at one end to a slidableblock 38 and are suitably supported for sliding movement in the frame 1.The block 38 also carries a rotatable spindle 39 disposed between therods 37 and carrying the applying roll 40 which is so positioned as tobe partly submerged in the cement or adhesive 41. The cement or adhesivein the receptacle is kept in suitable viscous condition by means of agas burner 42 located in operative relation to the receptacle 36. Thetape 43, after leaving the guide 35, passes over a series of rolls 44into contact with the roll 40 and thence to device for pressing it tothe material. The rolls 44 are mounted upon a frame 45 pivoted upon oneof the rods 37 and is adapted to be moved from one position to anotherby means of the hand lever 46 which operates upon the proper rod 37. Innormal op erative position of the frame 45 the tape is maintained incontact with a portion of the periphery of the applying roll 40, asshown in Fig. 6, while in its inoperative position the frame is tiltedto the dotted line position of Fig. 6 wherein the tape is removed fromthe said roll 40.

From the discharge end of the frame 45 the tape passes between the rolls47 and 48, the former being rotatably mounted below the table but sopositioned as to feed the tape through an opening 49 in the table andinto contact with the seam of the material. The upper roll 48 is similarin construction and operation to the pressing rolls '27, and furtherdescription thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.

The first pair of rolls 47 and 48 serve to press the tape into positionacross the seam of the material and after which the material passesacross the face of a box 50 which has one surface projecting through thetop 15 into contact with the cloth and is heated by steam from thesupply pipes 51. In the preferred form of the invention I have shown asecond pair of pressing rolls 51 and 52 at the other end of the dryingbox 50, and beyond these pressing rolls is a second drying box 50 sothat after the tape is applied to the seam it is alternately pressed anddried as Will be understood.

Referring again to the adhesive applying devices, it will be noted byreference to Fi s. 1 and 3, that I have provided a means or adjustingthe tape and the adhesive adjuncts transversely of the machine so as toinsure the tape being properly alined with respect to the moving seam.In this construction 53 designates an arm connected by the bar 54 withthe block 38 and having at its outer free end the pointer 55 whichserves to locate the exact position of the seam. The block 38 isprovided with a rack 56 in mesh with the gear 57 which is fixedlysupported on the frame 1 and rotated by means of the pinion 58 carriedby the rod the- 59, this latte extending to a convenient point of opertion where it terminates in the hand wheel 60.

It will thus be apparent by rotating the hand wheel 60 that motion willbe transmitted to the rods 37 and 39 thereby shifting the tape, togetherwith theapplying mechanism, to one slde of the other, whereby the tapeis properly alined with the seam. In connection with the rod 39 it willbe noted by reference to Fig. 1 that it is rotatable and driven by meansof a belt 61 from the driving shaft 10 and thus actuates the roll 40 tocontinuously bring a fresh supply of 'adhesive liquid into contact withthe tape.

62 designates a scraper fixed to the frame 45 and so positioned as tonormally contact with the tape to remove any excess of the adhesive,while its opposite end rests against the roll 40 and serves to preventthe adllliesive drying and collecting upon the ro The main driving shaft10 also transmits motion to the shaft 63 for the presser rolls 47 and tothe shaft 64 for the presser rolls 51, through the medium of the drivingchains 65 and 66, both of which operate about sprockets upon the shaft10, as will be understood. A separate chain drive 67 is employed betweenthe shaft 64 and shaft 68 to transmit movement from the former to thelatter and thus operate the conveyors 25.

In the operation of the machine the rug or carpet,, formed in sectionsjoined by seams, is positioned upon the receiving board 2 beneath theroll 3 and has its end attached to the conveyers 6. These latter beingin operation, feed the rug into engagement with the main conveyers 25and at the same time stretch the rug laterally in a manner to open upthe seams to the extent of bringing the rug sections into the same planeand eliminating the ridge seam. This stretching action is materiallyassisted by the heated steam jets from the pipe 21 which soften the seamso that it is more readily adapted to receive the reinforcing strip oftape which is to be applied. It will be understood -that if the seamsare not properly alined with the steam jet openings 21, the

latter may be brought to proper operative position by sliding the pipe21 transversely of the machinein the required direction until thepointer 24 indicates that the parts have reached proper operativeposition. After the stretching action and as the rug is moved forwardlyby the conveyor 25, the seams are respectively pressed by the rolls 27preparatory to receiving the reinforclng tape.

When the rug reaches the rolls 4 and 48 it encounters the tape one sideof which has been coated with the adhesive liquid. The action of'therolls 47 and 48 is to press the tape over the seam and closely bind thetwo materials together. This pressing and feed ing operation of the tapeand rug take place simultaneously and continuously and the rug passesfrom these rolls to bring the taped portions over the heating boxes 50which initially dry the adhesive thus fastening the tape 1n fixedposition. From these heating boxes the seams of the rug againpassthrough sets of pressing rolls and are then again subjected to thedrying action from the second set of heating boxes 50. The action, aswill be noted, is one of alternately pressing and heating the tapedseams so that when the rug finally leaves, the machine the seam iseffectively covered and reinforced by a binding tape which is made fastby the adhesive which is set during the drying and pressing operations.In Fig. 8 is shown a section through one of the rug seams wherein 69designates the abutting rug sections joined by the seam 70 which isreinforced and covered by the permanently attached tape 71. It will benoted that the seam ridge is entirely eliminated while any tendency ofthe seam to open up is efi'ectiially prevented by the binding action ofthe tape.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. In a machine of the character stated, thecombination of means for feeding an article having a plurality ofparallel seams into and through the machine, a plurality of tape guidesfor feeding the tapes to the seams of the article, means for applyingpaste to one side 'of the respective tapes, means for pressing thepasted tapes upon the respective seams of the article, and means fordrying the respective tapes after leaving the pressing means.

2. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of means forfeeding an article forward and stretching it laterally to flatten itsseams, and means for pressing a pasted tape over and upon the stretchedseam for covering the same and holding it in a flat condition. y

3. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of means forfeeding an article forward and stretching it laterally to flatten itsseams, means for pressing a pasted tape over and upon the stretched seamfor covering the same and holding it in a flat condition, and dryingmeans. for drying the pasted tape after it is applied.

4. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of means forfeeding a seamed article into the machine and simultaneously stretchingsaid article, a conveyer mechanism for receiving said article from thefeeding means, means for applying and permanently securing a reinforcingmaterial to said article for covering the seamed portion. and meansadjacent the stretching seamed article into the machine andsimultaneously stretching said article, a conveyer mechanism forreceiving said article from the feeding means, and means for applyingand permanently securing a reinforcing material to said article forcovering the seamed portions.

6. In a machine of the character stated, a pair of toothed conveyerslocated adjacent the receiving end of the machine and arranged indiverging relation to feed a seamed article into the machine andsimultaneously stretch said article,in combination with means forapplying and permanently securing a reinforcing material to said articlefor covering the sea-med portions. 4

7. In a machine of the character stated, a

- pair of toothed conveyers located adjacent the receiving end of themachine and arranged in divergingrelation to feed a seamed article intothe machine and simultaneously stretch said article, in combination witha steam supply pipe located adjacent said conveyer and provided withsteam discharge outlets normally juxtaposed with respect to the seamedportions of said article, and means for applying and permanentlysecuring a reinforcing material to said article for covering the seamedportions.

8. In a machine of the character stated, a pair of toothed conveyerslocated adjacent the receiving end of the machine and arranged indiverging relation to feed a seamed article into the machine andsimultaneously stretch said article, in combination with a steam supplypipe adjustably mounted adjacent said conveyer and provided with steamdischarge outlets normally juxtaposed with respect to the seamedportions ofsaid article, means for applying and permanently securing areinforcing material to said article for covering the seamed portions,and an indicating device for determining the juxtaposed position of saidsteam outlets with respect to said seamed portions.

9. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a pair oftoothed conveyers located adjacent the receiving end of the machine andarranged in diverging relation to feed a seamed article into the machineand simultaneously stretch said article, a devicelocated adjacent saidconveyers for softening the material of the seamed portions, and meansfor'applying and permanently securing a reinforcing material to saidarticle for covering the seamed portions.

. 10. In a machine of the character stated, the combination of a pair oftoothed conveyers located adjacent the receiving end of the machine andarranged in diverging relation -to feed a seamed article into themachine and simultaneously stretch said article, a device located adacent said conveyers for softening the material of the seamed portions,means for applying and permanently securing a reinforcing material tosaid article for covering the seamed portions, and a pressing devlceadjacent said applying means for pressing the reinforced portions.

11. In a machine of the characted stated, the combination of a pair oftoothed conveyers located adjacent the receiving end of the machine andarranged in diverging relation to feed a seamed article into the machineand simultaneously stretch said article, a device located adjacent saidconveyers for softening the material of the seamed portions, means forapplying and permanently securing a reinforcing material to said articlefor covering the seamed. portions, and means adjacent said reinforcingmaterial for alternately pressing and drying said reinforced portion.

12. In a machine of the character stated, a table having an openingtherein, means to feed a seamed article across said table with the seamportion passing over said opening, a device located adjacent saidopening for applying reinforcing material to said article, a receptaclefor adhesive, means operating inconjunction with said receptacle forremoving adhesive and applying the adhesive to one side of saidreinforcing material, and means for pressing and drying said reinforcingmaterial after it had been applied to the seam portions of said article.

13. In a machine of the character stated, a table having a plurality ofopenings therein, a tape-applying device adjacent each opening, means tofeed a seamed rug along said table with the seams respectively inalinement with said openings, an indicator for determining the positionof the seams, and movable means for shifting said indicator andtape-applying devices whereby the latter is positioned to place the tapeover a rug seam.

14. In a machine of the character stated, a table having a plurality ofopenings therein, means to feed a seamed rug along said table with theseams respectively in alinement with said openings, devices for applyingand pressing tapes respectively over said seams, a plurality ofreceptacles for adhesive mounted for transverse sliding movement, meansto coat one side of said tape with adhesive, and an indicator fordetermining the alined position of said applying devices with therespective rug seams.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

a v HENRY E. TERRY.

Witnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, FIDRENCE DEACON.

